Financial Advisors Compliance Solutions
Overview
What makes us unique is that we support you, the advisor.
Unlike a broker/dealer, FocusPoint does not have oversight—you keep discretion over your client accounts. We are here to help you do what you feel is best for your clients. We do not dictate how you run your business, but we can provide you with our business-minded recommendations and expertise based on our experience with any issues or questions you might experience. And if you need it, we can offer you access to our trusted offsite legal counsel.
RIA Formation
This is an area where we can really add immediate value to your situation. It’s also an example of some of the peripheral support that’s available to every advisor working with us.
Advisors often need help either forming an RIA or beginning to move more assets into an existing RIA which has previously gone unused. Our in-house transition and compliance specialists will help you to establish the best process for you based on your specific situation. Since we’ve been through the transition and RIA formation process so many times – including for our own practice – we know what to expect and how to guide you through properly setting things up.
Our team will walk through these questions with you to help you understand what you’ll need to do in order to do things right the first time around. Initially, we’ll work with you on certain questions which do need to be answered to start the ball rolling and determine your timeline and course of action; these will be revisited further into your transition.
We’ve found that it’s absolutely possible for you to be a good business owner and do things right compliance-wise. We’re familiar with your issues because FocusPoint is an RIA. We’ve also worked with and support many other RIAs, and therefore have various capable compliance and legal contacts.
You’re free to leverage off of the resources and systems we already have in place. We strongly encourage you to use us a resource for this area and don’t make the same mistakes as other advisors have made over the years.
This means that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
While, in most cases, we will definitely recommend that you engage legal counsel to draft and file certain documentation, we’re here to give you suggestions and recommendations throughout the process. At the end of the day, of course, it’s your business to do with as you see fit.
Ongoing Compliance Support
Initially, we can assist you with reviewing the paperwork required to file and approve in order to open your doors and do business as an RIA.
Once that piece is complete, the compliance support we offer and can provide includes working closely with you as you need our assistance or thoughts.
Ongoing Compliance Support Topics
- E&O recommendations (basic overview and general coverage questions)
- RIA document review (ADV, client agreement, etc.)
- Regulatory audit support
- If applicable, coordination with your broker/dealer (re: understanding FPS and setting up compliance oversight)
- Assistance with drafting client correspondence (situation specific)
Remember, what makes us unique is that we support you, the advisor.
Unlike a broker/dealer, FocusPoint does not have oversight – you keep discretion over your client accounts. We are here to help you do what you feel is best for your clients.
We’ll never dictate how you run your business, but we will certainly provide you with our strong recommendations and expertise based on our experience with any issues or questions you might experience.
Meet our Compliance Partner
Explore Our Compliance Services
Carr Butterfield, LLC is committed to ensuring the future success of the independent investment advisors and investment professionals we serve. Our law firm specializes in legal and compliance issues facing investment advisors, we provide our clients knowledgeable, personalized and proactive services.
We currently serve over 200 investment advisory firms ranging from large SEC based investment advisory firms to state—based solo operations. Unlike many law firms which have little relevant experience, we specialize in a broad range of compliance, litigation defense and regulatory issues facing today’s registered investment advisors and financial professionals.
You will discover our services differ greatly from the large impersonal compliance consulting companies which rarely provide services catered to your particular needs. Instead of your main contact being non—attorney staff persons, at Carr Butterfield, LLC you work directly with attorneys who have years of experience with RIA regulatory compliance issues.
Let us assist you with your specialized needs and help ensure your success. Learn more about our attorney backgrounds below, or visit us at www.carrbutterfield.com.
John T. Carr
John T. Carr provides legal representation of financial services professionals to limit, defend and/or deflect liability in regulatory investigations, enforcement actions, arbitrations and court cases pending before Oregon Circuit Courts and the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.
He is experienced in defending clients before federal and professional regulatory agencies across the U.S. and the Pacific Northwest, including but not limited to:
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)
- Washington Department of Financial Institutions
- Oregon Department of Finance and Corporate Securities
- Oregon Insurance Division • Washington State Insurance Commissioner
- Idaho Department of Finance, Securities Bureau
- Certified Financial Planner (“CFP”) Board of Standards, Inc.
- U.S. Department of Labor
Insurance defense claims involving errors and omissions (“E&O”) and commercial general liability (“CGL”) policies for insureds within the financial services industry are an area of focus. Mr. Carr’s additional practice areas include licensing, mergers and acquisitions, professional discipline, regulatory violations, audit compliance, entity formation, and corporate re-structuring. He is a former intern to the late U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield.
Lisanne Butterfield
Lisanne M. Butterfield developed a litigation practice early in her career when she served as a litigation paralegal, and later a summer associate, in the securities litigation department of a large, national law firm based in New York City. While in law school, Ms. Butterfield served as a judicial law clerk to Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Herrell.
She later joined a Pacific Northwest insurance defense firm defending policy holders in claims based on professional and municipal liability.
She also worked in the Guam office of a large Honolulu-based firm, which predominantly served Fortune 500 companies and international financial institutions. While in Guam, Ms. Butterfield served as lead trial attorney for commercial litigation, employment law, and insurance defense matters. Her practice included complex litigation, consumer fraud, and maritime/admiralty matters
Ms. Butterfield has represented multinational corporations and small, emerging entities in FINRA, private arbitration proceedings, and state and federal courts throughout the United States. These matters often include the litigation of the defense and indemnity obligations of insurers and business management.
In recent years, the core of Ms. Butterfield’s practice has been complex business litigation matters, legal ethics, and exit strategy advice for financial services professionals, departing employees, and business owners.